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Ministry of Information Industry: Web Sites That Fail to Register May Be Shut Down

June 1, 2005

In early May, local authorities in Guangzhou and Shanghai announced a requirement that all non-commercial Web sites in their jurisdictions must register. Xinhua reported on May 31 that the Ministry of Information Industry has asked local communication administrations throughout China to complete registration of non-commercial Web sites by June 30. According to the May 31 article, Web sites that fail to register promptly may be closed.

In early May, local authorities in Guangzhou and Shanghai announced a requirement that all non-commercial Web sites in their jurisdictions must register. Xinhua reported on May 31 that the Ministry of Information Industry has asked local communication administrations throughout China to complete registration of non-commercial Web sites by June 30. According to the May 31 article, Web sites that fail to register promptly may be closed.

The Xinhua report did not explain the reasons behind this crackdown, saying only that certain Web sites, such as those containing feudalistic and superstitious content, are "poisoning people's spirits," and that "[i]mplementing regulation and supervision of the Internet has become a fundamental task in the healthy development of our country's Internet." The new registration requirement, however, is likely being imposed pursuant to the Registration Administration Measures for Non-Commercial Internet Information Services that the Ministry of Information Industry promulgated on February 8, 2005. These measures prohibit the operation of an unregistered non-commercial Internet information service in China.

The crackdown appears to be part of series of moves by Chinese authorities to tighten control over the Internet. Such steps include:

issuing warnings to Internet content providers that they must "strengthen their self-discipline," monitor the identities of those using their services, limit users to a number that will allow them to be controlled, and that they would be held responsible if they failed to filter postings regarding demonstrations, Falun Gong, and other "forbidden" information.

calling for increased filtering of foreign Web sites, citing concerns that "Western countries, headed by the United States, have occupied an advantageous position with respect to the spread of the Internet, and they dump on China massive amounts of information of all kinds, including their political models, value systems, and lifestyles, in order to oppose and edge out socialist values."